Hillside View - Apocryphal Qianlong (乾隆年製) seal mark in iron red

Name: Hillside View
 
Type: Small Chinese Export Porcelain Saucer
 
Year: Mid to late 20th century
 
Set: No
 
Mark: Apocryphal Qianlong (乾隆年製) seal mark in iron red - Apocryphal Qianlong (乾隆年製) seal mark in iron red
 
History: This is a small Chinese porcelain saucer or pin dish featuring a hand-painted landscape scene with autumn foliage, distant hills, a small house or hut, and a figure walking along a path. The decorative gold scrollwork around the rim suggests an export piece intended for decorative use, likely mid-20th century in origin.
 
 
The backstamp features an apocryphal Qianlong (乾隆年製) seal mark in red enamel. These types of marks were commonly used on decorative wares in the 20th century, not to deceive but to honor the prosperous Qianlong reign (1736–1795). The characters roughly translate to "Made during the Qianlong reign of the Great Qing," but in this context, it does not indicate imperial manufacture.
 
 
The painting style, with its soft brushstrokes and vignette composition, is consistent with decorative export wares made in the 1950s–1970s, popular among Western collectors. The gilded rim adds a decorative flourish but shows some wear, which is expected from age.
 
 
This piece would have been used as a decorative item or possibly as a trinket or coin dish, rather than for formal tea service.
 
Flaws: None